Sydenham's chorea and chorea gravidarum (AAN report)

Subject: Sydenham's chorea and chorea gravidarum (AAN report)

Date: 4/23/1999

Successful treatment of Sydenham's chorea with intravenous immunoglobulin: Two cases
AC May, T Koch
Neurology 1999;52(Suppl 2):A52

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) may speed recovery of Sydenham's chorea (SC), according to this report. Two girls, ages 7 and 10, were treated with 2 gm/kg IVIg for SC after failing treatment with valproate, and valproate and pimizide, respectively. Both children experienced rapid, sustained improvement following IVIg.

Chorea gravidarum: New lessons from an old disease
F Cardoso, AP Vargas, MCQ Cunningham, SV Amaral, AA Guerra, B Horizonte
Neurology 1999;52(Suppl 2):A121

Chorea gravidarum (CG) is not caused by an acute infection or autoimmune response, but is related to prior Sydenham's chorea or rheumatic fever, according to this study. Of 129 patients with chorea seen at a single Brazilian movement disorders clinic over a five-year period, 5 were diagnosed with CG. Median age of onset was 18 years, and gestational progression was 10 weeks. History of previous SC was positive in two patients. Evidence of rheumatic valvulopathy was seen in 4 patients, while the fifth had a family history of CG.

E-MOVE Editor: Richard Robinson, NASW, WE MOVE